Grass ‘Tift 15’

ABSTRACT

The new variety  Pennisetum  ‘Tift 15’ is provided. The new and distinct variety has high ornamental value, cold tolerance for short periods of time, and disease resistance. The asexually reproduced variety is reliably propagated vegetatively.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed:

‘Tift 15’ is a tri-specific ornamental Pennisetum hybrid of the genusand species Pennisetum purpureum×[Pennisetum glaucum×(Pennisetumpurpureum×Pennisetum squamulatum)].

Variety denomination: The new Pennisetum claimed is of the varietydenominated ‘Tift 15’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPennisetum herein referred to as ‘Tift 15’.

The new Pennisetum ‘Tift15’ is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventors in Tifton, Ga. The objective of thePennisetum breeding program is to create new plant cultivars withimproved commercial qualities. This cultivar is commercially importantfor its superior ornamental value. These and other qualities areenumerated herein.

Pedigree and history: In 2003, red tetraploid (2n=4x=28) pearl millet(unpatented Pennisetum glaucum; designated ‘04-94’) was crossed with SC1125-2 [a Merkeron napiergrass (unpatented Pennisetum purpureum;2n=4x=28) that had been crossed with PS 262 (unpatented Pennisetumsquamulatum; 2n=8x=56)]. One vigorous plant, from the 04-94/SC 1125-2cross, designated ‘04-26-1,’ was selected in 2004. In 2004, ‘Princess’napiergrass (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,728; 2n=4x=28, female parent) waspollinated with ‘04-26-1’ (unpatented; male parent). The new variety‘Tift 15’ was the fifteenth plant selected in 2005 from the 2004 cross.The new variety ‘Tift 15’ has been tested since 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Pennisetum ‘Tift 15’ by vegetativepropagation (single stem propagules) in a controlled environment inTifton, Blairsville, and Griffin, Ga. since 2005, has shown that theunique features of this new Pennisetum hybrid are stable and reproducedtrue to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of a new variety Pennisetum, ‘Tift 15’. The new variety‘Tift 15’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in, forexample, temperature, day-length, light intensity, soil types, and waterand fertility levels without, however, any variance in genotype.

Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small lettersignify that the name of that color, as used in common speech, is aptlydescriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designatevalues based upon The R.H.S. Colour Chart, 5^(th) edition published byThe Royal Horticultural Society, London, England.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed in Tifton,Blairsville, and Griffin, Ga., and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of the new variety ‘Tift 15’:

-   -   1. ‘Tift 15’ reaches a height of about 70 cm, and a spread of        about 160 cm.    -   2. ‘Tift 15’ exhibits a vigorous growth habit.    -   3. ‘Tift 15’ is pollen and seed sterile.

The new variety Pennisetum ‘Tift 15’ can be compared to its parents,‘Princess’ and ‘04-26-01’.

Plants of the new Pennisetum ‘Tift 15’ differ from its female parent‘Princess’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. The leaf length of the new variety ‘Tift 15’ is longer than        for ‘Princess’.    -   2. The adaxial and abaxial leaf colors of the ‘Tift 15’ do not        have the mottled grey-purple/green colors of ‘Princess’.

Plants of the new Pennisetum ‘Tift 15’ differ from its male parent‘04-26-1’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. The new variety ‘Tift 15’ is slightly different from        ‘04-26-1’ in adaxial leaf color. The new variety ‘Tift 15’ is        about Greyed-purple RHS 187D, whereas ‘04-26-1’ is about mottled        Greyed-purple/green RHS 183B/138A.    -   2. The new variety ‘Tift 15’ has a different midrib color. The        new variety ‘Tift 15’ has a midrib color that is about        Greyed-purple RHS 187B, while ‘04-26-1’ has a midrib color that        is about Red-purple RHS 61C.

The following observations, measurements, and values describe plantsgrown in Tifton, Blairsville, or Griffin, Ga. In Tables 1-5, the leastsignificant difference (LSD) is set at P≦0.05 probability level. Growthdays were included in ratings. Plants were spaced at 2 meter centers.All data are from plants established as single stem propagules inmid-May and rated in September through October, except the data from2010 and 2011, in which the plants had been overwintered at Tifton, Ga.

The new variety ‘Tift 15’ was significantly shorter than ‘Princess’ intwo of three tests at Tifton, Ga. and in one test at Griffin, Ga. (Table1). There was no significant difference in the plant height of the twocultivars at Blairsville, Ga. (Table 1). The canopy diameter wassignificantly wider for ‘Tift 15’ than ‘Princess’ in three of six testsin Tifton, Blairsville, and Griffin, Ga. (Table 2). ‘Tift 15’ has anattractive reddish/purple color and was equal to ‘Princess’ in three ofsix tests and significantly better color in three tests (Table 3). Thenew variety ‘Tift 15’ is not disease-susceptible to Helminthosporiumleaf spot, whereas ‘Princess’ is susceptible to this disease (Table 4).Leaves of ‘Tift 15’ are significantly longer, but similar in width, andleaf area compared to the leaves of ‘Princess’ (Table 5). There was nosignificant difference in culm-leaf angle between ‘Tift 15’ and‘Princess’.

TABLE 1 Plant heights (cm) of two ornamental Pennisetum grasses plantedat three locations in Georgia. Tifton Blairsville Griffin 2009 2010 20112010 2011 2009 Growth days 153 d 150 d 183 d 145 d 160 d 141 d ‘Tift 15’63 80 61 85 90 110 ‘Princess’ 82 96 64 94 103 184 LSD 7 15 NS NS NS 21In Table 1, plant heights were measured from ground level to top ofplant canopy. All height measurements are in cm. At Tifton, Ga., ‘Tift15’ and ‘Princess’ were planted on May 9, 2009, May 9, 2010, and May 12,2011, with measurements taken on Oct. 12, 2009, Sep. 29, 2010, and Oct.18, 2011. At Blairsville, Ga., ‘Tift 15’ and ‘Princess’ were planted onMay 14, 2009, May 11, 2010, and May 1, 2011, with measurements made onOct. 8, 2009, Oct. 6, 2010 and Oct. 10, 2011, respectively. At Griffin,Ga., ‘Tift 15’ and ‘Princess’ were planted on May 14, 2009, withmeasurements taken on Oct. 2, 2009.

TABLE 2 Canopy diameter (cm) of individual plant of two ornamentalPennisetum grasses planted at three locations in Georgia. Plants werespaced on two meter centers. Tifton Blairsville Griffin 2009 2010 20112010 2011 2009 Growth days 153 d 150 d 183 d 145 d 160 d 141 d ‘Tift 15’138 123 133 150 151 164 ‘Princess’ 120 120 135 138 130 190 LSD 7 NS NSNS 12 28Plant canopy measurements, as shown in Table 2, represent the averagediameters measured at the estimated widest and narrowest portions of asingle plant canopy. Measurements are in cm. At Tifton, Ga., ‘Tift 15’and ‘Princess’ were planted on May 9, 2009, May 9, 2010, and May 12,2011, with measurements taken on Oct. 12, 2009, Sep. 29, 2010, and Oct.18, 2011. At Blairsville, Ga., ‘Tift 15’ and ‘Princess’ were planted onMay 11, 2010 and May 1, 2011, with measurements made on Oct. 6, 2010 andOct. 10, 2011. At Griffin, Ga., ‘Tift 15’ and ‘Princess’ were planted onMay 14, 2009, with measurements taken on Oct. 2, 2009.

TABLE 3 Color ratings on individual plants of two ornamental Pennisetumgrasses planted at three locations in Georgia. Plants were spaced on twometer centers. Tifton Blairsville Griffin 2009 2010 2011 2010 2011 2009Growth days 153 d 150 d 183 d 145 d 160 d 141 d ‘Tift 15’ 7.0 7.0 7.07.0 7.0 7.0 ‘Princess’ 7.0 3.1 6.0 5.6 5.3 7.0 LSD NS NS 0.6 0.8 0.6 NSColor ratings are measured on a scale of 1 to 9, where 1 representsgreen and 9 represents dark purple/red. At Tifton, Ga., ‘Tift 15’ and‘Princess’ were planted May 9, 2009, May 9, 2010, and May 12, 2011, withmeasurements taken on Oct. 12, 2009, Sep. 29, 2010, and Oct. 18, 2011.At Blairsville, Ga., ‘Tift 15’ and ‘Princess’ were planted on May 11,2010 and May 1, 2011, with measurements taken on Oct. 6, 2010 and Oct.10, 2011. At Griffin, Ga., ‘Tift 15’ and ‘Princess’ were planted on May14, 2009, with measurements taken Oct. 2, 2009.

TABLE 4 Helminthosporium leaf spot ratings on two ornamental Pennisetumgrasses planted at two locations in Georgia. Tifton Blairsville 20102011 2010 2011 Growth days 150 d 183 d 145 d 160 d ‘Tift 15’ 1.0 1.0 1.01.0 ‘Princess’ 6.6 8.0 5.0 7.6 LSD 0.1 0.0 1.2 0.2Disease ratings in Table 9 are defined as follows: 1=No disease,2=1-20%, 3=21-30%, 4=31-40%, 5=41-50%, 6=51-60%, 7=61-70%, 8=71-80%,9=>80% leaves infected. Symptoms occur in the field during late Augustand September. At Tifton, Ga., ‘Tift 15’ and ‘Princess’ were planted onMay 9, 2010 and May 12, 2011, with measurements taken on Sep. 29, 2010and Oct. 18, 2011. At Blairsville, Ga., ‘Tift 15’ and ‘Princess’ wereplanted on May 11, 2010 and May 1, 2011, with measurements taken on Oct.6, 2010 and Oct. 10, 2011.

TABLE 5 Leaf characteristics of individual plants of two ornamentalPennisetum grasses planted at Tifton, Georgia in 2009. Plants werespaced on two meter centers. Leaf Leaf Leaf Leaf Angle Entry Length (cm)Width (mm) Area (cm²) Culm:Leaf ‘Tift 15’ 64 34 158 13 ‘Princess’ 49 37132 13 LSD 6 NS NS NSThe leaf length was measured in cm from the leaf collar to the leaf tipof the latest fully extended leaf. The leaf width was measured in mm inthe center of the latest fully extended leaf. The leaf area was measuredin cm² using a LiCor area meter using the mean of three leaves perreplication. The measured leaf angle was the angle observed between theadaxial leaf angle surface and the culm at the leaf collar on the lastfully extended leaf and was measured in degrees. At Tifton, Ga., ‘Tift15’ was planted on May 9, 2009, with measurements taken on Sep. 12,2009.

TABLE 6 Summary of morphological characteristics of two Pennisetumgrasses. Trait ‘Princess’ ‘Tift 15’ Mature plant height 64-184 cm 61-110cm Diameter of plant canopy 120-190 cm 123-154 cm Leaf width 37 mm 34 mmLeaf length 49 cm 64 cm Leaf Area-cm² 132 158 Leaf Angle (Stem:Leaf) 13degrees 13 degrees Adaxial leaf surface None Few, 1 mm on trichomes bothside of midrib Abaxial leaf surface None None trichomes Leaf blademargin <0.1 m Less than 0.1 mm trichome length long Leaf collar trichomelength 1 mm Dense, 2 mm long Leaf blade edge at collar 3 mm long forSparse at base Trichome 3.5 cm from collar (5 mm long) for 6 cm fromcollar Sheath trichomes Less than 1.0 mm None Adaxial leaf color MottledGreyed- Greyed-purple purple/Green 187D/137B 187D Abaxial leaf colorMottled Greyed- Greyed-purple purple/Green 187D/137B 187A Midrib colorGreyed-purple 187C Greyed-purple 187B Inflorescences on None None Dec.21, 2009 Helminthosporium leaf Yes None spot on mature plants

In summary, ‘Tilft 15’ is either equal in height or significantlyshorter and is either equal in color or has significantly better colorcompared to ‘Princess.’ ‘Tift 15’ has better disease resistance than‘Princess.’ ‘Tift 15’ has longer leaves than ‘Princess.’

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new variety of Pennisetum ‘Tift 15.’The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with thephotographic and printing technology utilized.

Certain characteristics of this variety, such as growth and color, maychange with changing environmental conditions (e.g., light, temperature,moisture, nutrient availability, or other factors). Color descriptionsand other terminology are used in accordance with their ordinarydictionary descriptions, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.Color designations are made with reference to The Royal HorticulturalSociety (R.H.S.) Colour Chart.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the new variety Pennisetum ‘Tift 15.’

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new variety ‘Tift 15’ is a perennial at Tifton, Ga. (USDA Zone 8a).The new variety ‘Tift 15’ survived at approximately −6° C. for one nightand 21 nights below 0° C. in the field during the 2009/2010 winter atTifton. It has survived the winter temperatures (−7° C. for one nightand 24 nights below 0° C. in the field during 2010/2011) in Tifton. Ithas not survived the winter temperatures at Griffin, Ga. (USDA Zone 7b)or in the mountains of Blairsville, Ga. (USDA Zone 6b). Because of itsvigor, it can effectively be used as an annual where it will not survivefreezing temperatures in the winter.

All data are from plants established as single stem propagules inmid-May, and rated in September through October, except the 2010 and2011 data are from plants that over-wintered at Tifton. Plants werespaced at 2 meter centers.

-   Plant:    -   -   Mature plant height.—Approximately 61-110 cm.        -   Diameter of plant canopy.—Approximately 123-154 cm.-   Leaf:    -   -   Leaf width.—Approximately 34 mm.        -   Leaf length.—Approximately 64 mm.        -   Adaxial leaf surface trichomes.—Few, 1 mm on both sides of            midribs.        -   Abaxial leaf surface trichomes.—None.        -   Leaf blade margin trichome length.—Less than 0.1 mm long.        -   Leaf collar trichome length.—Dense, 2 mm long.        -   Leaf blade edge at collar trichome.—Sparse at base (5 mm            long) for 6 cm from collar.        -   Sheath trichomes.—None.        -   Adaxial leaf color.—About Greyed-purple RHS 187D.        -   Abaxial leaf color.—About Greyed-purple RHS 187A.        -   Midrib color.—About Greyed-purple RHS 187B.        -   Helminthosporium leaf spot on mature plants.—None.        -   Inflorescence.—None.-   Culm:

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of the Pennisetumplant named ‘Tift 15’, substantially as illustrated and describedherein.